Applied Anatomy: Connective Tissure

Connective tissue is comprised of…

1. ground substance: intrastitial fluid, cell adhesion protein, proteoglycans

2. fibers: collagen, elastin, reticular

3. cells: forming cells, leukocytes, mast cells, specialized macrophages

ground substance

amorphous material filling space between cells

intrastitial fluid

fluid contained within tissue

cell adhesion protein

allows cells to attach to matrix of tissue

proteoglycans

protein with polysaccharides which trap fluid

collagen

rope like fibers that resist tensile forces

elastin

coiled fibers that allow reformation of shape after stretch

reticular

delicate collagen type fibers that provide network of cushion

areolar tissue

• types of fiber used: collagen, elastic, reticular

• types of cells: fibroblasts, leukocytes, mast cells

• location: under epithelia, around organs

• function: support and bind, infection, cushion organs

adipose tissue

• fiber types in tissue: collagen, elastic, reticular

• cellular component: mostly adipocytes

• location: subcutaneous, breast, around organs

• function: storage of molecular energy, insulation

reticular tissue

• fiber types: reticular

• cellular component: reticular cells, lymphocytes

• location: spleen, lymph nodes, bone marrow

• function: cushion organ, infection

dense regular connective tissue:

• type of fiber in tissue: collagen, elastin

• cellular component: fibroblasts

• location: tendon, ligaments

• function: great at resisting high tensile forces, attaches bone to bone, attaches muscle to bone

dense irregular connective tissue

• fiber types in tissue: collagen, elastin

• cellular component: fibroblasts

• location: joint capsules, dermis of skin, submucosa of digestive tract

• function: great at resisting high tensile forces

hyaline cartilage

• fiber types in tissue: primarily collagen

• cellular component: chondroblasts

• location: ends of long bones, connects ribs to sternum, nose, trachea

• function: great at diminishing the shear forces between articulating bones, allows firm but relatively flexible structures, binding together bones that require firm stability but flexibility

fibrocartilage

• fiber type in tissue: primarily collagen

• cellular component: chondroblasts

• location: intervertebral discs, pubic symphysis, tibio-femoral articulation (knee)

• function: great at diminishing the compressive forces between articulating bones, allows some resistance to tensile forces

elastic cartilage

• fiber types in tissue: primarily elastic fibers

• cellular component: chondroblasts

• location: outer ear, epiglottis

• function: great at permitting a lot of deformation without injury, maintains the shape of an object without unneccessarily limiting “floppiness”